joffficer

Anyone try using a smaller battery.... lighter? I remember using a lawn tractor battery and it saved 10-20 pounds. I know that's not a huge savings, but every little bit can add up! But that car didn't have all the power goddies the Xb has.... any ideas?

Spr0ket

Use a cold cranking gel cell battery like the Optima red top. It's a little lighter than stock I believe and will give you cranking amps galore.

joffficer

Those are nice, but pricey! Tractor batteries can be had for about $25.

Just curious if anyone has tried a smaller battery... probably won't work to well in the cold weather, though. (not to mention I need one for a tractor )

Gothbox

Optima makes a what they call a "Honda" yellow top, it is smaller that the reg yellow top.

proctorsilex

joffficer, are you trying to lighten the front end specifically? have you done anything else to lighten it?

i haven't thought of anything to lighten the car without losing features that i use (like the rear seat).

superbiker

what is the Optima yellowtop type that is need for the xb?

xbbscion

yeah i wanna know abotu the yellow top as well.

Gothbox

the reg. yellow top will do just fine. They make a large one also but it would not fit. You can pick one up at Auto Zone Advanced, etc. for about $165

joffficer

Not trying to lighten anything in particular... just an idea. When I was messing with Turbo Dodges that was one thing that could be done. not to mention it free'd up some room in the engine bay.

Come to think of it... my van had to be a much bigger drain on the battery! The lawn tractor battery worked fine with that (although I never used it in Winter). Maybe I'll try it this spring.

NeoXa

A bunch of people make lightweight battery's = Buddy club, oddesy ( spelling? ), spoon - if you don't mind a honda type battery...::shrugs::

squirrel

I have a yellow top, but I know a few peeps running the smaller Oddessy(sp?).

proctorsilex

I've had the smaller battery idea in the back of my head since reading this thread.
Then I remembered the relocation thread that I saw:
http://www.echodrivers.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1569

Then I happened to bump into a small battery:
http://www.pdm-racing.com/products/power.html

I did not make any measurements, but I just took a quick look at the spare tire space under the flimsy board in the rear. I think that such a battter could be fit in there, definitely on top of the spare and maybe to the side.

I see two problems:
1) DC transmission is very inefficient. i.e. longer wires = more energy lost.
2) how long is the smaller batter going to last and will it be reliable?

This project could free up some space in the front end for all of those fog horns that everyone wants. How about a pipe organ?
It could also improve handling ever so slightly.

Carviperblue

I'm interested in this battery also. I think its a great idea. I don't have a system and don't plan on getting one. Its a good way to shave about 20lbs off the front end.

NeoXa

All it is, buy a smaller battery and have the cables to connect to it. heh..works out nice

NeoXa

I just put a smaller battery in my car actually, into the xa. fit perfect. Bought an oddessy 680 small dry cell. Wonderful. Very happy

proctorsilex

NeoXa, noticing any differences in handling?

NeoXa

to be honest, i haven't messed with it much. just to work and back. I need to make a new intake pipe for the blitz intake. lol.

NeoXa

So i drove the car a little bit over the weekend, hit some turns around the neighborhood hard, and yeah i noticed a little difference, its obviously a little lighter up front...it's nice.

proctorsilex

NeoXa,
One last question. When you gun it from a stand still, does your car pull in either direction? Did it change at all after the battery?

In my car, the front wheels always want to turn left when I accelerate. I'm not sure if it's alignment, weight distrbution, design, or coincidence.
I'm thinking about getting the PC925MJT.

NeoXa

car pulling? not at all. I feel the difference only in handling, not in the way it drives, meaning no pull..etc. I have an oddessy 680. works great.